Trays for the storage of articles

ABSTRACT

A tray for the storage of articles, such tray having collapsible sidewalls, that is to say they are capable of being folded or hinged with respect to the base of the tray until they are flat therewith, said sidewalls being formed firstly with means for interengaging them, in the erection of the tray, in the vicinity of the corners thereof, and secondly with means adapted to form supports at or adjacent the corners of the tray for receiving and supporting the bottom of another tray placed on top.

I United States Patent 1111 3,623,651

[72] Inventor Betty Muriel Marcan [56] References Cited Burroughs GI'OVE, Pump Lane, Little UNITED STATES PATENTS 21 A l N gr ft; Bmkmghamsmre' England 2986320 5/1961 Nicholls et n1. 229/34 l Se 29 1969 3.093291 6/1963 Brandle 229/35 d N 3.108.569 l0/l963 Kundikofi' 229/35 :39: 1968 1147,9013 9/1964 Clemens 229/23 c Y 2; 85min 3.507.441 4/1970 Wilcox etal. 229/30 [31] 46,254/68 Primary Examiner- Donald F Norton Allur/1e \--Burns Duane. Swecker & Mathis [54] TRAYS FOR THE STORAGE OF ARTICLES 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. ABSTRACT: A tray for the storage of articles. such tray having collapsible sidewalls, that is to say they are capable of [52] "g g 553 if?! being folded 0| hinged with respect to the base ofthe tray until 51 l t Cl 865d 5 they are flat therewith, said sidewalls being formed firstly with g 229/35 93 means for interengaging them. in the erection of the tray, in

' S,34.23C.6, 30,31,32. 34.DlG. ll

the vicinity of the corners thereof, and secondly with means adapted to form supports at or adjacent the corners of the tray for receiving and supporting the bottom of another tray placed on top.

" PATENTEDunv a0 nan SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTEnunv 30 ml SHEET 2 [1F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to trays for the storage of articles. In particular the invention is concerned with trays for garden produce such as, for example, tomatoes, which trays are commonly referred to as Dutch Trays. The principal feature of such a tray is that it has at its four corners upstanding pillars greater in depth than its sidewalls. Thus, when one tray is placed on top of another the corner pillars serve to space the bottom of the upper tray from the open top of the lower tray, whereby any produce in the lower tray is not squashed and air is allowed to circulate freely between the two trays.

A disadvantage of this type of tray, as commonly used today, is that considerable space is required for storage of any quantity of empty trays. They cannot be nested one within the other, the only possible saving of space being that achieved by placing one tray upside down on top of another, that is with their corner pillars overlapped.

The object of this invention is to overcome or minimize the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a tray for the storage of articles, such tray having collapsible sidewalls, that is to say they are capable of being folded or hinged with respect to the base of the tray until they are fiat therewith, said sidewalls being formed firstly with means for interengaging them, in the erection of the tray, in the vicinity of the comers thereof, and secondly with means adapted to form supports at or adjacent the corners of the tray for receiving and supporting the bottom of another tray placed on top.

This invention also provides a blank for forming a tray for the storage of articles, such blank having a portion for providing the base of the tray, and portions for forming the sidewalls of the tray joined to said base portion so that they can be disposed flat therewith in a collapsed condition, or folded or hinged with respect thereto for erection of the tray, said sidewall portions of the blank being formed firstly with means for interengaging them, in the erection of the tray, in the vicinity of the corners thereof, and secondly with means adapted to form supports at or adjacent the corners of the tray for receiving and supporting the bottom of another tray placed on top.

While trays in accordance with this invention are particularly suitable for receiving garden produce, as referred to above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular use. Trays formed in accordance with this invention can be used for the storage, whether temporary, permanent or semipermanent of all kinds of articles, for example spare parts in factories, tools, and food products generally, whether perishable or nonperishable.

Certain embodiments of this invention will now be described in some detail, but here again this is purely by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. I is a general perspective view of a tray in accordance with one embodiment, the tray being shown in outline except for one corner, and this FIGURE being drawn on a smaller scale than the remaining Figures,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing one comer of a blank for forming a tray as shown in FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the interengagement of the corner parts as shown in FIG. 2 during erection of the blank to form a tray,

FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively pairs of views similar to FIGS. 2 and 4, of blanks for forming trays in accordance with two other embodiments,

DESCRIPTION OF SHOWN EMBODIMENTS A tray is formed from an initially fiat blank consisting of a rectangular base portion 1 with wall forming portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 extending from the side edges thereof. The wall forming portions are capable of being folded or hinged with respect to the base portion so as either to lie flat therewith or to extend upwardly therefrom, for example at right angles thereto. The base portion and wall forming portions may be corrugated, indented or otherwise formed or treated to give them added strength and rigidity, and to provide for integral panels for use as name plates or the like.

The wall forming portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 are also of generally rectangular form, but the opposite end sections 6 of each of the two opposite sidewall portions 3 and 5 are made deeper than the remainder thereof. The two opposite end wall portions 2 and 4 may be of the same depth as the end sections 6 of the sidewall portions, or they may be formed with like end sections themselves. Thus when, in the erection of a tray ready for use, the wall forming portions are folded or hinged up with respect to the base portion, there are formed comer sections 7 which stand above the general level of the tops of at least the sidewalls of the tray.

The arrangement may be such that the walls of an erected tray are slightly inclined upwardly and outwardly, so that the bottom of another tray can readily be introduced within the tops of the comer sections as aforesaid. On the other hand the corner sections and any wall portions of the same depth may be turned outwardly and then upwardly again to provide ledges on which the bottom of another tray can be rested.

In the ends or end sections of the wall forming portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 there are formed inwardly projecting ribs 10, the arrangement being such that in an erected tray, the ribs provide means for supporting the comers of the bottom of another tray placed on top.

The wall forming portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 are formed with means for positively interengaging them, in the erection of a tray, in the vicinity of the corners thereof. Such means may take many different forms, several of which are illustrated.

The wall forming portions may include end extensions 11 which are overlapped, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. These extensions are formed with inwardly projecting ribs 12 which, with the tray in the erected position, coincide with and fit together with the ribs 10. For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rib 10 on the wall 2 fits into the rib 12 on the wall 5 extension and the rib 12 on the wall 2 extension fits into the rib 10 on the wall 5. Those ribs which fit into the corresponding coincident ribs when the tray is erected may be smaller than the receiving ribs to facilitate the erection of the tray.

The wall forming portions and the end extensions 11 thereof may include interengageable fastening elements I3, 14 in the nature of press fastenings, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in each pair of adjacent end extensions 11 one may be provided with an elongated tongue 15 adapted to be folded and passed through slots 16 formed in the wall forming portions near and parallel to the ribs 10 therein. As shown in FIG. 6, in an erected tray, the tongue 15 extends across the comer of the tray on the inside of the abutted ribs 10, the tongue having at the end thereof a notch 17 which ensures a final positive location of the tongue in the second of the slots 16 through which it is passed.

In another alternative, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the wall forming portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 may simply be formed with interlocking teeth, tongues or the like 20 which positively interengages so that thereafter they cannot accidentally be separated but require to be manipulated apart. In each corner of the tray one wall forming portion may be provided with a projecting tongue 21 carrying one half of a fastening element 22, again in the nature of a press fastening, the other half of this fastening element being provided in the other wall forming portion. The fastening element 22 provides an added precaution against outward collapse of the wall forming portions, for example, under extreme pressure or force sufficient to separate the teeth, tongues or the like 20.

Instead of or in addition to means for positively interengaging the wall forming portions, as above described, staples 30 may be employed, as indicated in FIG. 4.

Blanks for forming trays, all in accordance with this invention, may readily be molded from synthetic plastics materials.

I claim:

1. A tray for the storage of articles, said tray having collapsible sidewalls capable of being folded with respect to a base portion of said tray until they are flat therewith, said sidewalls being formed with extensions on the ends thereof which overlap and interengage said sidewalls with said tray in an erected position, said sidewalls and said extensions including inwardly projecting ribs which coincide and fit together, with said tray in said erected position to provide support for the bottom corners of another tray placed on top of said tray in said erected position.

2. The tray of claim 1 formed from an initially flat blank consisting of a rectangular portion with wall forming portions of generally rectangular shape extending from the edges thereof.

3. The tray of claim 2 wherein the wall forming portions and said extensions include interengageable fastening elements.

4. The tray of claim 2 wherein in each pair of adjacent end extensions one is provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through and positively located in slots formed in the wall forming portions on which said end extensions are formed.

5. A blank for forming a tray for the storage of articles comprising a bottom portion having integral sidewall forming portions adapted to pivot with respect to said bottom portion between a substantially coplanar position and an erected position, each of said sidewall forming portions including first means integral therewith for interengaging adjacent of said sidewall fonning portions, said first means extending from at least one end of said sidewall forming portions beyond a corner of said bottom portion with said sidewall forming portions in said erected position, and each of said sidewall forming portions including a rib integral therewith and extending laterally outwardly from said sidewall forming portions adjacent the ends thereof for supporting the bottom comers of another tray placed on top of said tray with said tray in said erected position.

6. A tray for the storage of articles, said tray having sidewalls joined to, and capable of being folded between a substantially flat position and an erected position with respect to, a base portion forming the bottom of said tray, said sidewalls including first means for interengaging adjacent of said sidewalls with said sidewalls in said erected position, each of said sidewalls including a rib disposed at each end thereof, said rib extending inwardly into said tray with said sidewalls in said erected position, said sidewalls and said ribs receiving and supporting the bottom corners of another tray place on top of said tray to prevent lateral and downward displacement therebetween.

7. The tray of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of each of said sidewalls extends beyond one end of each of said ribs.

8. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means includes extensions on both ends of each of said sidewalls, said extensions on adjacent of said sidewalls overlapping with said tray in said erected position.

9. The tray of claim 8 wherein each of said extensions carries one half of a fastening element, the other half of each fastening element being provided in said sidewalls.

10. The tray of claim 9 wherein said first means include inwardly projecting ribs coinciding with and fitting together with the ribs in said sidewalls when said tray is in said erected position.

11. The tray of claim 6 wherein said sidewalls and said first means include interengageable fastening elements.

12. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises a plurality of teeth at each end of each of said sidewalls, said teeth at adjacent ends of said sidewalls being positively interengaged with said tray in the erected position.

[3. The tray of claim 6 wherein each of said first means carries one half of a fastening element and each of said sidewalls carries the other half of said fastening element.

14. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means include inwardly projecting ribs coinciding with and fitting together with the ribs in said sidewalls with said tray in said erected position, said ribs abutting longitudinally at each corner of said tray when said tray is in said erected position. 

1. A tray for the storage of articles, said tray having collapsible sidewalls capable of being folded with respect to a base portion of said tray until they are flat therewith, said sidewalls being formed with extensions on the ends thereof which overlap and interengage said sidewalls with said tray in an erected position, said sidewalls and said extensions including inwardly projecting ribs which coincide and fit together, with said tray in said erected position to provide support for the bottom corners of another tray placed on top of said tray in said erected position.
 2. The tray of claim 1 formed from an initially flat blank consisting of a rectangular portion with wall forming portions of generally rectangular shape extending from the edges thereof.
 3. The tray of claim 2 wherein the wall forming portions and said extensions include interengageable fastening elements.
 4. The tray of claim 2 wherein in each pair of adjacent end extensions one is provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through and positively located in slots formed in the wall forming portions on which said end extensions are formed.
 5. A blank for forming a tray for the storage of articles comprising a bottom portion having integral sidewall forming portions adapted to pivot with respect to said bottom portion between a substantially coplanar position and an erected position, each of said sidewall forming portions including first means integral therewith for interengaging adjacent of said sidewall forming portions, said first means extending from at least one end of said sidewall forming portions beyond a corner of said bottom portion with said sidewall forming portions in said erected position, and each of said sidewall forming portions including a rib integral therewith and extending laterally outwardly from said sidewall forming portions adjacent the ends thereof for supporting the bottom corners of another tray placed on top of said tray with said tray in said erected position.
 6. A tray for the storage of articles, said tray having sidewalls joined to, and capable of being folded between a substantially flat position and an erected position with respect to, a base portion forming the bottom of said tray, said sidewalls including first means for interengaging adjacent of said sidewalls with said sidewalls in said erected position, each of said sidewalls including a rib disposed at each end thereof, said rib extending inwardly into said tray with said sidewalls in said erected position, said sidewalls and said ribs receiving and supporting the bottom corners of another trAy place on top of said tray to prevent lateral and downward displacement therebetween.
 7. The tray of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of each of said sidewalls extends beyond one end of each of said ribs.
 8. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means includes extensions on both ends of each of said sidewalls, said extensions on adjacent of said sidewalls overlapping with said tray in said erected position.
 9. The tray of claim 8 wherein each of said extensions carries one half of a fastening element, the other half of each fastening element being provided in said sidewalls.
 10. The tray of claim 9 wherein said first means include inwardly projecting ribs coinciding with and fitting together with the ribs in said sidewalls when said tray is in said erected position.
 11. The tray of claim 6 wherein said sidewalls and said first means include interengageable fastening elements.
 12. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises a plurality of teeth at each end of each of said sidewalls, said teeth at adjacent ends of said sidewalls being positively interengaged with said tray in the erected position.
 13. The tray of claim 6 wherein each of said first means carries one half of a fastening element and each of said sidewalls carries the other half of said fastening element.
 14. The tray of claim 6 wherein said first means include inwardly projecting ribs coinciding with and fitting together with the ribs in said sidewalls with said tray in said erected position, said ribs abutting longitudinally at each corner of said tray when said tray is in said erected position. 